Submarine safety apparatus



March 1931- J. A. ROBINSON SUBMARINE SAFETY APPARATUS Filed July 25 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. E/Ofl/YA foam 50w ATTORNEY March 10, 1931. I J. A. ROBINSON 9 SUBMARINE SAFETY APPARATUS Filed July 25 1950 3 Sheets- -Sheet 2 By 6 W A TTORNEY March 1931- J. A. ROBINSON SUBMARINE SAFETY APPARATUS Filed July 23 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR. BOB/0600 Patented Mar; 10, 1931 PATENT O FICE:

JOHN A. ROBINSON, or SAN nrnco, CALIFORNIA 1 I suBMAR-INE SAFETY APPARATUS Application filed July 23, 1930.. Serial 110.470,,011.

My inventionrelates to submarine safety devices, and the objects of my invention are: First, to. provide a device of this class which enables communication to be established and .ai r to be supplied to persons trapped in a sunken submarine without requiring a diver to descend to the submarine; 7

Second, to provide a safety device of this class in which the apparatus used by the rescuing ship is simple enough that it can be carried on any vessel'so that the first ship to the scene of the disastermay prcceedwi-th rescuing operations, thereby saving valuabletime;

Third, to provide an apparatus of this; class which does not interfere with the ordinary use of the submarine;

Fourth, to provide an apparatus of this class in which the portion thereof carried by the submarine is small and compact enough that one or more may be provided for each compartment Fifth, to provide an apparatus of this class in which a buoy may be raised to the surface from any compartment 1n whlch men are still ahve, or may be: arranged to rise automatically seas tomarlr the spot at which the submarine sanlgf Sixth, to provide an apparatus of this class in which communication may be quickly established between the. submarine and the rescuing vessel and the communication main-v tainedflduring the operation of connecting the air supply hose to the submarlne so that ble, efficientin its action, and which will not readily deteriorate or getout of-ord'er.

the most efficient cooperation may be had be-j several views of the drawings;

lVith these and other objects in View as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novelfeatures; of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and." portions as will be. hereinafter described in detail 'andparticularly set forth in the appendedclaims, reference being bad to the, acccmpan-yingdrawings and to the characters. of reference thereon, which form a this application, in which l y Figure 1 is a diagrammatical- View showing a sunken submarine in sectional outlineiand illustrating the means of effecting a rescue;- Fig. 2' is a'sectional View of the apparatus as installed on the submarine ready for use in case of disaster; Fig. 3 is a similar fragmentary sectional view showing the air supply hose connected ready to supply air'tothe sunken submarine, Fig. 4 is another similar sectional View showing a further stepin the rescue operation, in which. air is being sup;

plied to the men the submarine; Fig. 5' "1s a plan view of the float and its receiving cradle, under normal conditions; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view substantially through 66 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectionalview'of the cable drum and its. casing, showing means for maintain ing a contactwith' electric wires carried by the buoy cable; Fig. 8 is an end elevational view of the contact rings and their insulated supports, taken substantially through 8 8 of Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 is a sectional View there- 3 of through 99 of Figi f'; Fig. is a ienlarged fragmentary elevationalview of the other side of the c'able drum casing, showing a means for locking the drum in any desired position; Fig. lI is'an enlargedfragmentary sectional View of the nozzle for the rescuing hose, showing a means for attaching it to the buoy cable so as to: maintaincommunication sel; Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional View ofthe buoy, and illustrating the means-of connecting it to the-buoy cable? and between the submarine and the rescuing ves- Similar characters of reference referto similar parts and portions throughout the Buoy cradle 1, cradle stem 2, guide rollers 3, roller guard 4, cable drum casing 5, air cock 6, coupling member 7, water discharge pipe 8, valve 9, cable drum l0, buoy cable 11, ratchet means 12, looking lever 13, hand wheel 1 plug member 15, contact rings 16, conductor bars 17, sealing material 18, cap member 19, contact support 20, contacts 21, buoy cable fitting 22, beacon light cable fitting 23, beacon light cable 24, casing member 25, coupling members 26, buoy 27, beacon light 28, hose fitting 29, air supply hose 30, continuation cable fitting 31, continuation cable 32, locking screw 33, and inner air hose 34 constitute the principal parts and portions of my submarine safety devices.

A buoy cradle is provided which is mounted in the space between the super-structure A and the hull B of the submarine. The cradle is substantially funnel-shaped with a depending stem 2, having a tapered bore 2a corresponding to the spout of the funnel. The stem 2 is screw-threaded through an internally threaded boss B1 of the hull, forming a water-tight joint therewith.

The buoy cradle 1 is circular in cross section, and has its largest diameter at its upper end, which is substantially flush with the super-structure A. Arranged around the rim of the buoy cradle 1 are rollers 3, which are supported and separated by bearing portions 1a of the cradle.

Mounted on the structure. A around the buoy cradle 1 is a guard ring 1 having finger portions 4a, which extend over the spaces between the several rollers 3, as shown best in Figs. 2, 5, and 6. The purpose of the rollers and the guard ring will be brought out in more detail hereinafter.

The stem 2 extends into the hull of the submarine, and is secured to an internally threaded boss 50; of a cable drum casing 5. I The casing 5 1S cylindrical wli'h 1ts axis extending at right angles and in oifset relation to the boss 50; and axis of the stem 2, as shown more detail hereinafter.

Also at the lower side of the drum casing 5, there is provided a nipple 5b which is adapted to be connected by means of a coupling 7 to a water discharge pipe 8. The water dis-. charge pipe 8 curves upwardly and opens to the outside of the hull, being connected to a fitting B2 provided in said hull. Somewhere in the length of the water discharge pipe 8,

- there is provided a valve 9.

'Mounted in the cable drum casing 5, is a cable drum 10, comprlsing a hub portion 10a, and annular retalning flanges 10?) arranged adjacent and inside of the ends of the cas-- ing 5.

Wound around the drum 10, is a buoy cable 11. The cable 11 performs two functions, one to effect operation of the buoy and rescuing apparatus, and the other to carry wires for establishing communication between the submarine and rescuing vessel or supply power to the submarine from said vessel or current for lighting beacon lights provided with the buoy, to be described in more detail hereinafter.

The ends of the hub 10a extend through packing glands 5c at the ends of thehousing. The one protruding end of the hub 10a is providedwith a ratchet wheel 12, which is adapted to be engaged by a locking lever 13 supported on the outside of the drum casing 5, as shown in Fig. 10. This end of the hub 10a is arranged to receive a hand wheel 14.

The other endof the hub 10a is provided with a recess or socket 100 therein, which receives a plug member 15 formed of insulating material. Supported at the extended end of the plug member are a plurality of contact rings '16, which are connected to conductor bars 17, which extend through the plug member 15. The inner end of the plug 15 is spaced slightly from the inner end of the socket 100 forming a chamber in which is fed the secured end 11a of the buoy cable 11. Electric wires 11?) which are carried by the cable 11 are connected to theseveral conductor bars 17. Thisspace is then filled with a sealing material 18, as shown in Fig.7.

Supported over this extended end of the hub 10a, is a cap member 19, in which is mounted a contact support 20, upon which are mounted a plurality of contacts 21, adapted to make contact with the several contact rings 16. The cap member is prevented from rotating by means of suitable foot 19a extending from the cap member to the casing 5.

The cable 11, after winding around the drum, passes out through the boss 5a into the stem 2. The extendedend of the cable 11 7 is provided with a cable fitting 22, shown best in Figs. 11, 12," and 13. This fitting is provided with either contacting sockets or projections 22a which fit in complementary portions of a beacon light cable fitting 23 at the end of a beacon light cable 24. These members are heldin secured relation by a casingor hearing is connected by diverging webs.

25b to a threaded ring portion 260 of larger diameter adapted to screw in a socket 27aprovided in the underside of the buoy 27 and grease-1.

form a. water-tight sealtherewith. Thus, the coupling members. 26. togetherform a. sub

stantiall -ccnical shaped end piece having x man remalmngralrve 1n any compartment; re.-

openings 26d between the webs. 2.6.6:.

The buoy 27 is made; spherical and strong,

enough to standpliessures at; a considerable depth. he buoy lightv cable 2st extends upwardly through a packing gland 27h prQ-- vid'edl in. the center of the socket 2.7.12, and connects with. buoy light. 28; mounted at the. u pperside ot the buoy, asshown best in Figs; 2 and. 5,. This: light; may be protected by a suitable guard 27.0..

Vl hcn the, coupling. members: are in place in. the socket 270,-, they are held from spread.- ing so that: they are firmly'though swivelly connected to: the cable ll. Biy unscrewing these membersafrom the. buoy, they may be separated so as to release the cable 11'- The same coupling members or similarco-uplingmembers- 26' maybe used to connect the cable '11 tov the end fitting 29 of an air supplyhose 30. The fitting 29 is substantiab ly in the form of a truncated cone, the-side wall converging gradually towards the extended end of the; fitting. The lower end of the fitting 29 is internally threaded to receive ring portions 260. I The coupling members 26- togetber form a substantially conical tip to the hose fitting 29' from the apex of which extends the cable 11, as shown best in Fig. 11. f

The fitting 22 of the cable 11 is adapted to be secured to a fitting 31 of a continuation cable 82.. Said fitting 31 and cable 32may be identical in construction to the beacon light cable fitting 33. and beacon light cable 24. The. cable 32 extends within the air supply hose 30 and is connected with a suitable telephone system on the rescuing vessel or with a source of electric supply or both, depending, upon the number of wires carried.

Just above the lower end of the fitting- 22:,

' there is provided. an annular channel 29a of L- shaped cross section. The lower wall 291)., thatis, the wall adjacent theeXte-nded end of the fitting 29,, is adapted to be engaged by a locking screw 33, which is mounted the side wall of the stem. 22 so as to force and holdthe fitting 29 in the position shown in Fig. 8,. p

Operation'of my submarine rescue apparatus. is as follows: i I

Theapparatus carried by the submarine is normally in the position shown in 2, the

buoy 27 being held in the cradle l by the cable llwhich inturn is-held by the drum 10,, the drum being locked against rotation by the locking lever 13". 7 With this normal condition, the valves 6 and 9 are closed while the discharge pipe 8 is connected to the drum casing. C 1

It is preferred to provide one or more of the Whenthe submarine; sinksby accident, any i leases the lever 13; al l-owing the buoy to rise toi-the surface: of the water This: movement is: assisted by turning" the. handle: wheelv 1A which controls; the. drum so that a; relatively small buoy maybe used for this mrposei. If the: electric supply Off the submarinesis still available it maybe connected with severalot the wires from the contact 2]; so; as to:

ship reachesztbespotthe buoy is. lifted aboard shipthere being provided enough extracablse on the drum,. under most circumstances, to

permit this.

light: the. beacon '28.; As. soon the. rescue; 1

On. the rescue ship, the buoy'is removed; V

the cable 11 is joinedtoi the rescue or air supply hose 30, through theaconpling 29?. At the same time, the connection is made with. the continuing cable3'2, which. establishes communication between the rescue ship and. y

the. submarine.

The members of the submarine crew then rotatethe drum by means of a hand: wheel 14,, drawing the airsupply hose to the submarine.

Should the submarine be listing, the rollers and guard ring function to prevent-thesn p ply hose from catching;

As both the bore o-fthe stem 2 the wallsot the hose. fitting 29 are; tapcrcd, thehose fitting may be drawn into snug relation witl-i the fitting- 2 by the cable 111 When this isdone, a locking screw; 33 is turned so as to cause the point thereofi to bear against-thelowc-r slope 29b of the annular channel 29% provided in the fitting 29, as shown in 3 This holds the fitting firmly in place in the stem 2.

After this is done, the submarine notifies the rescue ship oi the; fact and water which has fillcd -i-n the 1 air supply pipe duringits descent to thesubmarine is blown out the disk charge pipe 8 the valve 9 beingopen. The hose is purposely allowed to fill with water so that it can more readily be pulled down to the submarine; otherwise, considerable force would be required toovercorne the buoyancy of air in the airsu-pplylinea lV'h-en all the: Waterhas been blown out,. and

air begins to come, the valve 9 is closedandpassed. down the; inside. thereodi, as shown in Fig; 4,. for. passing food in liquid fornnor At all times, communication may be maintined through the cable 11 and the continuing cable 32. -Thus,the crew of the rescue ship may cooperate with the members of the submarine crew and thereby facilitate salvaging on the submarine as well'as saving the lives of the crew.

If the supply hose is reinforced so as to withstand the pressure of the water, once it is connected to the submarine and the water therein has been discharged, the upper end of the supply hose may be disconnected from the compressor and be open to the atmosphere. In such case, the inner hose 34: alone may supply the fresh air.

In certain compartments of the submarine, where space permits, the stem 2, pipe fitting 29, and coupling members 26 used in connection therewith may be enlarged so as to coact with a tube large enough to permit a man to pass through. This tube is vented to the atmosphere and is reinforced so as to withstand the water pressure. Much of the remaining mechanism need not be greatly enlarged as the cable 11 need only be used to guide the tube to the submarine, the tube being open at its lower end so as to at first fill with water.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particularconstruc- -tion, combination and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth 'in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a submarine safety apparatus, a hous ing mounted within a submarine and having a passage communicating with the exterior of said submarine, a cable drum rotatably mounted in said housing, a cable wrapped around said cable drum and extending 7 through said passage, a buoy securable to the extended end of said cable arranged to lift said cable to the surface of the-water, an air supplyhose,means for attaching said cable to said air supply hose, andmeans operable from within said submarine for re-winding said cable and drawing said air supply hose 7 to said submarine.

2.-In a submarlne safety apparatus, a

cable drum mounted within the hull of a submarine, a casing therefor having a passage communicating with the exterior of said submarine, a cable wrapped around said drum, the one end thereof projecting through said passage, a buoy, coupling means for connecting said cable to said buoy, an air supply conduit carried by a rescuing vessel, means for attachingsaid cable to said air supply conduit, means for re-winding said cable, and a fitting for said air supply conduit for forming a sealed joint between said passage and said air supply conduit. 1

ply conduit, and means for rewinding said.

cable for drawing said fitting into sealed relation with said first-mentioned passage.

4L. In a submarine safety apparatus, a casing, provided with an open passage communieating with the exterior of a submarine, a second passage communicating with the interior of said submarine, a valve for controlling said second passage, a drum mounted in said casing, a cable for said drum, means for raising said cable to the surface of the water, a supply conduit, coup-ling means for' connecting said cable to said supply conduit,

I and means for ire-winding said cable so as to draw the end of said supply conduit into said first-mentioned passage.

5. In a submarine safety apparatus, the combination with a submarine and a rescue vessel, of a cable carried by said submarine, V

a buoy for raising an end of said cable to from within said submarine for drawing said cable back, a tube carried by said rescue vessel, and coupling means for connecting said cable to said tube.

6. Ina submarine safety apparatus, the combination with a submarine and a rescue vessel, of a cable carried by said submarine, a buoy for raising an end of said cable to the surface of the water, means operable from within said submarine for drawing said cable back, tube carriedby said rescue vessel, coupiing means for connecting said cable to said tube, a fitting at the end of said tube, and a corresponding fitting on said submarine, said cable arranged to draw said fittings into sealed relation.

7. In a submarine safety apparatus, the combination with a submarine and a rescue vessel, of a cable carried by said submarine,

abuoy for raising an end of said cable to r the surface of the water, means operable from within said submarine for drawing said cable back, a tube carried by said rescue vessel, coupling means for connecting said cable 7 corresponding fitting on said submarine,said 5 the surface of the Water, means operablefrom within said submarine for drawing said cable back, a tube carried by said rescue vessel, coupling means-for connecting said cable to said tube, and means carried by said cable and said tube for establishing electrical communication between said submarine and said rescue vessel.

9. In a submarine safety apparatus, the combination with a submarine and a rescue vessel, of a cable carried by said submarine, a buoy for raising an end of said cable to the surface of the water, means operable from within said submarine for drawing said cable back, a tube carried by said rescue vessel, coupling means for connecting said cable, to said tube, a fitting at the end of said tube, a corresponding fitting on said submarine, said cable arranged to draw said fittings into sealed relation, and means carried by said cable and said air supply conduit for establishing electrical communication between said submarine and said rescue vessel.

10. In a submarine safety apparatus, the combination with a submarine and a rescue vessel, of a cable carried by said submarine, a buoy for raising an end of said cable to the surface of the water, means operable from within said submarine for drawing said cable back, a tube carried by said rescue vessel, coupling means for connecting said cable to said tube, an electric line carried by said cable, a beacon light carried by said buoy, and electric wires carried by said tube, said electric line connectible to either said beacon light or said electric wires.

combination with a submarine and a rescue vessel, of a cable carried by said submarine, a buoy for raising an end of said cable to the surface of the water, means operable from within said submarine for drawing said cable ba.ck, a tube carried by said rescue vessel, coupling. means for connecting said cable to said tube, a fitting at the end of said tube,-

a corresponding fitting on said submarine, said cable arranged to draw said fittings on said submarine, an electric line carried by said cable, a beacon light carried by said buoy, and electric wires carried by said air supply conduit, said electric line connectible to either said beason light or said electric wires.

12. In a submarine safety apparatus, the

' combination with a submarine and a rescue yessoifi a cable 'oarrisd by said submarine,

"bacln 'a tube carried by said rescue vessel, fcou'pling means for "connecting said cable to said tube, on open ended fitting tli'e' eil'd said tube whereby said tubefil ls withwater :Cluilh'g descent to said submarine, corresp nding iittii goii subma ine, said cab-1e arranged to draw said iitti igsii' ito seaied re lation, 'bjyp ass means for conducting water entrapped in saidtube fba'cl; into the water suro i i di ig said submarine upon the iiliiiig of said tube with air, ano-leotrio line carried 'by "and electric wires carried by said air supply conduit, said-doctrioiiiie 'coiiiiq'ctiblo to either said beacon light o said electric wire-is. i

I. 1's; In submarine s i'oty apparatus, the" combination 'with'a submarine and a rescue a fv'esset ofa oaioieroai-riedby submarine, a

bony for raising amend or saidcable to the surface of the water, iii sans *opei dbie from 7 within said submarinetor-drawing said "cable 'baok,' a 'tubo carried bye-aid rescue vessel, coupling means for connecting said cable to said tube, a fitting at th en'd oi' saidtube,

corre ponding fitting on said submarine,

said cable 'a raii god'to draw said fittings into sealed relati mand an ii i i er air hose Cifil'l'd by said tube, vvhe'rdb air may into said coupling means for eo ii ooting said cable to said tube, open aided fitting at the 9116.

of said tube whereby said tube fills with water during descent to said submarine, correjspoiiding fittin ir on said submarine said "cable 11. In a submarine safety apparatus, the arranged todrzwgaidvfittihgs ilfitdnsielaiedlrg lation, by pass means for conducting water i to entrapped in "said tube back into the water surrounding said submarine upon the filling of said tube with air, and an inner air hose carried by said tube, whereby air may pass into said submarine from said inner air hose and out'therefrom through said tube.

15. In a submarine safety apparatus, e

combination with a submarine and a rescue vessel, of a cable carried by said submarine,

, a buoy for raising an end of said cable to the surface of the Water, means operable from Within said submarine for drawing said cable back, a tube carried by said rescue vessel, coupling means for connecting said cable to said tube, a fitting atthe end of said tube, a

corresponding fitting on said submarine, said "1'30 cable arranged to draw said fittings into sealed relation, means carried by said cable and said air suply conduit for establishing electrical communication between said submarine and said rescue vessel, and an inner air hose carried by said tube, whereby air may pass into said submarine from said inner air hose and out therefrom through said tube.

16. In a submarine safety apparatus, the combination with a submarine and a rescue vessel, of a cable carried by said submarine, a buoy for raising an end of said cable to the surface of the water, means operable from within said submarine for drawing said cable back, a tube carried by said rescue vessel, coupling means for connecting said cable to said tube, a fitting at the end of said tube, a corresponding fitting on said submarine, said cable arranged to draw said fittings on said submarine, an electric line carried by said cable, a beacon light carried by said buoy, and electric wires carried by said air supply conduit, said electric line connectible to either said beacon light or said electric wires, and an inner air hose carried by said tube, whereby air may pass into said submarine from said inner air hose and out therefrom through said tube. V

17. In a submarine safety apparatus, a casing, provided with an open passage com- 'municating with the exterior of a submarine,

a second passage communicating with themterior of said submarine, a valve for controlling said second passage, a buoy cradle arranged over the outlet end of said first passage, a drum mounted in said casing, a cable for said drum, a buoy normally supported in'said'buoy cradle coupledto said cable and arranged to raise said cable to the surface of the water, a tube carried by a rescue ship, said cable connectible to said tube, means for rewinding said cable so as to draw the end of said tube to said first mentioned passage,

and guide means around the inlet to said buoy cradle, I s

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Diego, California, the

l6th day of July, 1930.

JOHN A. ROBINSON. 

